advanced reading copy of ADOPTING GRACE
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viewed such support as a weakness but as a gift. There was no reason for me to be alone in this pursuit. For a season of about four years, we met together regularly. But as always, life transitions and our needs change. We only meet once in a great while these days, but each time we cross paths, we experience a safe and grace filled bond with one another. I have much gratitude for these women who encouraged me to become a better mom. We learned many new skills together. I carried these new ideas into our home, and my husband began to see positive results within our changing family dynamic. Gratefully, I was not walking this journey alone. I had a partner. **** When our family began to fall apart in obvious ways, there was an invitation for my husband Mark and me to engage in conversation around our marriage roles and how we could each adapt to meet the needs of our family. My “I can handle it all” belief around being mom and home manager played a large part in a stark division of labor within our home. I pretty much handled all matters at home, and Mark took care of work and financial provision. Though his work was demanding, he did spend a good deal of his free time interacting with our children. He always had more energy and patience with play activity, and he pulled his weight when there were mini crises along the parenting way. But the day-to-day myriad of details and tasks involving children and home mostly fell to me. Sometimes when he pitched in on the mundane day-to-day ADOPTING GRACE ADVANCED READING COPY 75